I just quit my job at a popular Chinese restaurant chain where I was working as a food server. The cleaning expectations were extreme; I spent most of my shifts on my knees scrubbing baseboards and cleaning under chairs and toilets instead of serving food. It felt like I was doing back-breaking work with little recognition for my actual role. The customers were also challenging—one incident left me feeling humiliated when a girl laughed while asking for her order, only to later complain that I gave her a plate instead of a bowl. I had no idea she wanted a bowl, and her complaint resulted in me being coached for two hours and forced to clean even more. The job took a toll on my mental health; I often went home in tears and felt completely burnt out. After just four weeks, I resigned without notice. I have enough savings to get by for now, and I’ve decided to look for retail jobs instead. They seem much more manageable and less stressful. I have a newfound respect for fast food workers; it truly is a tough gig.